Intelligent Control: Fuzzy Logic Applications (Mechatronics)

The emergence of fuzzy logic and its applications has dramatically changed the face of industrial control engineering. Over the last two decades, fuzzy logic has allowed control engineers to meet and overcome the challenges of developing effective controllers for increasingly complex systems with poorly defined dynamics. Today's engineers need a working knowledge of the principles and techniques of fuzzy logic-Intelligent Control provides it. The author first introduces the traditional control techniques and contrasts them with intelligent control. He then presents several methods of representing and processing knowledge and introduces fuzzy logic as one such method. He highlights the advantages of fuzzy logic over other techniques, indicates its limitations, and describes in detail a hierarchical control structure appropriate for use in intelligent control systems. He introduces a variety of applications, most in the areas of robotics and mechatronics but with others including air conditioning and process/production control. One appendix provides discussion of some advanced analytical concepts of fuzzy logic, another describes a commercially available software system for developing fuzzy logic application. Intelligent Control is filled with worked examples, exercises, problems, and references. No prior knowledge of the subject nor advanced mathematics are needed to comprehend much of the book, making it well-suited as a senior undergraduate or first-year graduate text and a convenient reference tool for practicing professionals.